Two market-bound steers fell from a cattle truck and romped around downtown Greenfield, Ind., recently. Byron Ray, driver of the truck, started from an intersection and the steers were thrown against the tailgate hard enough to break it. The animals were unhurt and were rounded up near Riley school, where they were guided up a chute into the truck.

A barn on the Morgan farm, north of Raleigh and south of Lewisville, was destroyed by fire. The barn had not been used for several years and there were no buildings nearby. The farm is owned by “Chub” Morgan and Mrs. Iva Freer, both of Lewisville.

Seven thousand bushels of corn destined for export to Europe were spilled onto the railroad right-of-way and E. Michigan Road at the edge of Shelbyville recently, when two Penn Central boxcars derailed on a spur line and overturned.

Indiana farmers are hit harder by property taxes than any other major economic group, as farmers living in the 81 non-metropolitan counties constitute about 9 percent of the population in those counties, but pay 38 percent of the property taxes, which amounts to $148 million or an amount equal to 32 percent of their net income.

Farmers and grain dealers saw their first break in the weather, allowing them the opportunity to go out and try to salvage soybean and corn crops. The past three months, the ground has been too wet to support the heavy machinery to harvest the grain. Now the ground is frozen enough to support the equipment.

Farmers in Indiana defeated the corn referendum last December by a final vote of 15,831 opposed, 9,334 in favor. Only Scott and Tippecanoe counties voted for the checkoff.

10 years ago

Iowa farmland’s average value topped $2,000 per acre, the second-highest dollar figure reported since Iowa State University started conducting an annual survey of land values back in 1941.

More than 700 members of the Hart-Parr/Oliver Collectors Assoc. voted in favor of building a museum, which would preserve and display farm machinery produced by the former Oliver Co. The group has grown to 17 chapters and more than 6,000 members across the United States and Canada. The site is expected to be built near the Oliver family mansion in South Bend, Ind.

Julie Dalzell, the Ohio State University extension agent from Butler County, won the Excellence in 4-H Award, honoring the state’s top 4-H professional.